Energy Minister of Kazakhstan Magum Mirzagaliyev said that the government has no opportunity to reduce the prices of liquefied gas, thereby going to meet the requirements of protesters in Zhanaozen. His words brings “Interfax”.
He noted that the Cabinet does not see such an opportunity to date, referring to the cost of production and the laws of the market, which “no one has canceled.”
“At the same Zhanaozen gas processing plant, the same citizens work the same residents of this city. And when the cost of gas production is 100 tenge, and this is more than those desired 50-60, then we have two options: we will or will we To sit in a constant shortage and our plants at some point will just stop, or they will be taken here, maybe not very popular measures, “Mirzagaliyev clarified, having in mind the price increase.
According to him, the prices for liquefied gas in Kazakhstan are still the lowest in the region, while not stimulating the growth of its production. Frequent repairs of worn out plants also lead to a decrease. The minister stressed that under current conditions there are no investment attractiveness to expand gas production.
January 2, protests began in Zhanaozen because of the sharp rise in prices for liquefied gas. Gorozov-motorists outraged an increase in the cost of liquefied gas to 120 tenge (20.56 Russian rubles) per liter, they demand from the authorities to reduce the price twice. President Kasim-Zhomart Tokayev instructed the government of the republic “urgently consider the situation in Zhanaozen, taking into account economic feasibility, in the legal field.”